A bulletin board welcomes students and staff back to school for the 2021-2022 school year at Summit District 104. (Supplied photos)
Area schools welcome back students and staff
By Carol McGowan
School is back in full swing as students from kindergarten to eighth-grade returned to area classrooms last week.
At Summit School District 104, PR Media Specialist Taylor Lupo said it was a positive comeback.
Some of the many SD 104 summer school participants.
“After about a year and a half of remote learning, School District 104 welcomed back its students for in-person instruction on August 25. There were many obstacles and challenges that needed to be faced to get to this point, but the faculty and staff have worked hard to make this transition back a success. School District 104 is excited to have their students back and are looking forward to the 2021-2022 school year.”
The district also had a very successful expanded summer school program under the leadership of veteran teacher Raquel Modiest with the collaboration efforts of Supt. Dr. Troy Whalen, the school board, and Jon Baricovich, Director of English Learner Programming/Program Director, overseeing Infuse-Unidos and PACTT grants in the district.
Hundreds of students participated, as there were two four-week sessions. Student athletes were also able to participate in 20-day camps to help with their upcoming sports seasons.
District 104 consists of Graves Elementary, Heritage Middle School, Walker Elementary, Walsh Elementary, and the Wharton Fifth Grade Center.
Indian Springs School District 109 has also opened their doors to the 2021-2022 school year. The district includes Bridgeview Elementary, Brodnicki Elementary, Lyle Elementary, Player Early Childhood Center, Wilkins Elementary, and Wilkins Junior High.
Parents in the Brodnicki PFE (Parents for Education), where excited to welcome the staff back and surprised them with snacks and filled the staff refrigerator with beverages such as bottled water and vitamin water.
Burbank School District 111 held a Back to School Rally on Saturday at Luther Burbank School in Burbank. The district includes Burbank, Byrd, Fry, Kennedy, Liberty, Maddock, McCord and Tobin schools.
PFE members Tabatha Sutera (left) and Carrie Bernardoni stock up treats for teachers and staff at Brodnicki School in Justice.
Teachers, students and staff from each school took part in the rally.
Teachers and staff at Ideal Elementary School in Countryside made a giant sign welcoming students back to class in LaGrange School District 105, which has Ideal, Gurrie Middle School, Hodgkins Elementary School, Spring Avenue Elementary and Seventh Avenue Elementary School.
For current guidelines at the area school districts, but sure to check the individual district websites.
Burbank School District 111 held its Back to School Rally last Saturday at Luther Burbank School. Teachers and staff from every school in the district were on hand to get the students excited about a new school year of classroom instruction.
The staff at Ideal Elementary in Countryside welcome District 105 students back to class.
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